ajj3085,

The BeforeDropDown event will not fire in the child form if a PopupMenuTool that was created on the MdiParent was dropped down.  What you can do is create an internal method in your child form and handle the BeforeDropDown event on the MdiParent form.  In that event get the instance of your MdiChild and call your internal method.  Code might look something like:

In the MdiChild:

        internal void MyMethod()
        {
            // Do something here
        }

In the MdiParent:

        private void ultraToolbarsManager1_BeforeToolDropdown(object sender, Infragistics.Win.UltraWinToolbars.BeforeToolDropdownEventArgs e)
        {
            if (e.Tool.Key == "PopupMenuTool1")
            {
                Form1 f = (Form1)this.MdiChildren[0];
                f.MyMethod();
            }
        }

Hope this helps,

~Kim~